Setbacks for Callide C cooling tower build

Issues including weather interruptions, COVID-19 at site and the Gaza war have contributed to further delays in bringing one of the Callide C power station units back online, according to CS Energy. The government-owned generator said the Callide C joint venture (JV) had revised the initial return to service date for Unit C3 by 17 days. CS Energy is rebuilding two cooling towers at the Callide C plant outside Biloela following the structural failure of a section of the Unit C3 cooling tower in late 2022. The decision to rebuild the C3 and C4 cooling towers follows inspections and advice from independent engineering experts on both towers, which are of the same age and design. Unit C3 is now forecast to partially return to service on January 24 rather than January 7. There is no change to the forecast dates for Unit C3’s return to full capacity or the return to service dates for C4. CS Energy chief executive officer Darren Busine said the shift in Unit C3’s partial return to service reflected the impact of recent rain and hot weather, resourcing challenges, including illness and COVID-19 at site, and global supply chain issues. This included some of the assigned freight carriers being diverted to assist with humanitarian efforts in the Gaza war and domestic issues in India which impacted the scheduling and delivery of materials. Mr Busine said significant progress had been made on the construction of the new C3 cooling tower, with approximately 165,000 hours worked on site. “We prioritised the Unit C3 cooling tower as the first of the new cooling towers to be built and there has been an unprecedented level of activity at site to make this happen," he said. “Approximately 300 people are working around the clock, seven days a week on site and a logistics specialist has coordinated the movement of more than 1000 tonnes of freight from all corners of the world. “In parallel to the construction activity, CS Energy is working through a commissioning program for Unit C3. This will involve a series of tests, including briefly running the unit at low loads to support its partial return on 24 January. “This is a highly complex and unique project, and I would like to acknowledge the efforts of eveyone involved to progress the works to this stage. “Our first priority is the safety of our people and plant. “I would like to reassure Queenslanders that we are doing everything we can to have the unit back online as soon as possible.” Callide power station is comprised of two power plants, Callide B and C, each with two generating units (B1 and B2, C3 and C4). The Callide B units are currently generating electricity.

Setbacks for Callide C cooling tower build

Industry Queensland

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